The impact of patriotic Canadians determined to stay on home turf instead of travelling south of the border is continuing to be felt by the tourism industry.

Because of a drop in passenger numbers, Clipper sailings between Victoria and Seattle have been reduced to help the service 香蕉视频直播渆conomize on costs.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淏y the time 2025 is over, we will have performed about 20 per cent fewer sailings than last year,香蕉视频直播� said Clipper chief executive Mark Collins. 

The current spring service has been cut from seven to five round-trip sailings per week, with the Clipper not in operation on Tuesdays and Wednesdays 香蕉视频直播� something that will be repeated in the fall.

And for the peak summer season 香蕉视频直播� mid-June to mid-September 香蕉视频直播� the service will be open all week, with only one daily round-trip. This is in stark contrast to last year, when the number of round-trips per week fluctuated between nine and 11, according to demand.

香蕉视频直播淭hat's a pretty significant reduction for us because this is peak season and the ship is often running with 400 or even 500 people on it,香蕉视频直播� said Collins.

The news comes days after Black Ball Ferry announced the M.V. Coho will run fewer times than usual between Victoria and Port Angeles at the start of June due to 香蕉视频直播渃urrent travel demand."

Less Clipper sailings mean cuts have been made elsewhere in the company, says Collins. Twenty staff members have been laid off in Seattle, while fewer shifts will be available for 10 of the 16 team members in Victoria.

A dramatic drop in the volume of passengers is to blame, both in Victoria and south of the border, he says.

According to the chief executive, the Clipper has seen a 35 per cent drop in passengers originating in Canada, and up to a 12 per cent decrease in its traffic originating in the U.S.

香蕉视频直播淪o those are very significant numbers for us 香蕉视频直播� our ship is operating at between 30 and 40 per cent full some days,香蕉视频直播� he said.

The continuing tension caused by U.S. President Donald Trump香蕉视频直播檚 trade tariffs and his repeated calls for Canada to become the 51st state is one of the reasons for the drop in passenger numbers, says Collins. 

香蕉视频直播淐anadians feel insulted and they don't feel inclined to travel, and I totally understand that,香蕉视频直播� said Collins, who is Canadian himself.

A less than favourable exchange rate for Canadians, and tales of enhanced enforcement at the U.S. border, have also played their part, he adds.

香蕉视频直播淚 will say we've had no problems on our border crossing, the U.S. customs and immigration officials are based in Canada, and I think they have an understanding of Canada, and we've had no difficulties,香蕉视频直播� Collins said.

As to why there has been a drop in U.S. passengers, Collins says Americans worried about the possibility of uncertain economic times ahead are choosing to vacation closer to home.

香蕉视频直播淭he region of Washington state is already one of the most expensive places in the United States to live, and people are feeling the pressure,香蕉视频直播� he said.

香蕉视频直播淎nd when that uncertainty creeps into the economy, people set out to economize and often tourism and discretionary dollars are the first things they cut back on.香蕉视频直播�

To combat the declining passenger numbers, Collins says his team is pivoting its marketing and sales efforts to the U.S.

香蕉视频直播淚t's a tough sell in Canada right now to convince people to travel because of the reasons that are very personal to Canadians,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淏ut in the U.S., we can try to convince them that there's still good value 香蕉视频直播� the exchange rate is in their favour.香蕉视频直播�

Despite the cutbacks, Collins is hopeful the Clipper service will navigate its way through the current turbulent waters in "as good a shape" as they can.

香蕉视频直播淭he great thing about tourism, although it's affected first when there's a pullback in the economy, it often bounces back quickly, like you saw after COVID 香蕉视频直播� that pent-up travel demand often comes back quickly."